Dr. Margaret McIntyre leaves University of Ghana after 20 years

After capping a 20-year-long career as lecturer of Mathematics at the University of Ghana, Legon, Dr Margaret McIntyre bows out and prepares to leave Ghana in September this year.

Dr McIntyre arrived in Ghana in 1997 to teach Mathematics at the University of Ghana upon the advice of her late Ghanaian husband Professor Agbedazi, who she met in Australia during their PhD studies.

Although Dr McIntyre retired in 2015, she continues to teach till date. She brings her two (2) decades of dedicated and selfless service to Ghana to an end, at the end of 2016/2017 academic year.

Dr McIntyre, 62, who served as Head of Department of Mathematics from 2009 till date announced her decision to go back to Australia after years of service to Ghana.

Dr McIntyre has served the department of Mathematics in many ways. She served as departmental examination officer and in August 2009 she was appointed as the Head of the department.

In 2004, Dr McIntyre together with Dr Douglas Adu-Gyamfi began running MPhil programme in Mathematics at the University of which most of the graduates have gone ahead to study their PhDs and are currently lecturing at the department.

She is also instrumental in the reintroduction of PhD programme at the department which begins next academic year.

“You also served the department in many ways. First as departmental examination officer until August 2009, when you continue to serve now as the Head of the department till present. In order to deal with the severe shortage of lecturers in the department, YOU and Dr Douglas Adu-Gyamfi began running MPhil Programmes in Mathematics in September 2004, recruiting other lecturers from outside of the University to teach some of the courses. Most of the graduates from that programme are currently lecturers in the department.

You are also instrument in recruiting other people to join the staff of the department. You have also help to revive the PhD programme in Mathematics which begins in the 2017/2018 academic year,” excerpts of the citation presented by the department of Mathematics reads.

“You leave a great vacuum in the department, both as an academic and as an effective administrator that will be challenging to fill,” it added.

Watch video of citation in honour of Dr. McIntyre presented by the department of Mathematics

In recognition and appreciation of her dedicated and selfless services to the University and Ghana at large, the Department of Mathematics held a surprise and memorable party for her and two other retired lecturers of the department on Tuesday, 2nd May, 2017. The other two lecturers are Dr Douglas Adu-Gyamfi and Mr J.S.G Jackson.

Friends, colleagues, past and present students who made it to the party praised Dr McIntyre's contributions as a teacher and researcher as probably unmatched by anyone—not only at University of Ghana, but throughout the world.

Head of Department of Statistics, Dr Amponsah Doku, a former student and a mentee, in his citation praised Dr McIntyre's contributions to him as a teacher and a fellow researcher.

"You have dedicated your time to my personal development. You have served as my referee for both my applications to study for my MSC degree in Germany and PhD degree in UK. Margaret, I sincerely owe you a depth of gratitude because of the genuine and sincere references you wrote for me. As a fellow researcher, you have directly contributed to the quality of my research publications," excerpts of Dr Doku's citation reads.

Watch video of citation in honour of Dr. McIntyre presented by Dr Doku Amponsah, Head of Department of Statistics

The Mathematics Society of University of Ghana, former students and others presented their citations to Dr Margaret McIntyre.

In a related development, Dr Adu-Gyamfi and Mr J.S.G Jackson were also honoured for their dedication and efforts in helping in the growth of the department of Mathematics.

The farewell party was attended by prominent Mathematical Physicists Professor Francis Allotey, Professor Clement Lutterodt from Howard University, USA, some retired lecturers of the University, Provost of College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Prof. Daniel K. Asiedu, Dean of School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Prof. Richard Kingsford Adaboh, Director of Academic Programme at AIMS Ghana, Prof. Emmanuel K. Essel, lecturers from other universities, current lecturers of University of Ghana, past and present students of the Mathematics department.